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American Public Health Association
133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition
December 10-14, 2005
Philadelphia, PA
APHA 2005
 
3246.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 3

Abstract #114673

Lessons from the field: Partnering with communities and district health teams in Uganda on family planning programs

Diana DuBois, MPH/MIA1, Jolene Mullins, MPH2, Kelley MacTavish-Mungar3, Mary Bukenya1, Mary Ssewamuwe, RN3, and Elijah Talemwa1. (1) Minnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV), 122 West Franklin Avenue, Suite # 522, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2480, 612 871 3759, ddubois@mihv.org, (2) HIV/AIDS Program Office, Broward County Health Department, 780 SW 24th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, (3) Minnesota International Health Volunteers, #2 Impala House, Kampala, Uganda

Most Ugandan women are aware of family planning options and there is a high demand for services, yet only 5-8% of married women use modern contraceptive methods. Numerous barriers exist to providing comprehensive family planning services in resource scarce environments.

From 1993-2000, Minnesota International Health Volunteers (MIHV) implemented a child survival project in Ssembabule District (in rural southwestern Uganda), which included a large family planning component. The project addressed family planning within the larger context of reproductive and maternal health using a multi-sectoral community-based participatory approach. To increase the use of family planning methods, the project implemented five key strategies: expanded service delivery, mobilization of communities, capacity building of health unit staff, collaboration with key stakeholders, and the development of innovative information, education, and communication strategies. Results were evaluated through a baseline and final Knowledge, Practice, Coverage (KPC) survey with 300 respondents.

In this session, MIHV will share the results of their evidence-based family planning project which included an increase in modern contraceptive use among women of reproductive age from 6% to 14%; an increase in condom use by male partners from 0% to 11%; a doubling of contraceptive use among women who did not want a child in the next two years from 24% - 47%; and a decline in reported pregnancies from 16% to 10%.

MIHV will describe the many lessons learned from this project that could be used by other public health practitioners working in resource poor areas in Africa or other developing countries.

Learning Objectives: LEARNING OBJECTIVES